Learning to learn: A case for developing Small Firm Owner/Managers

Purpose: The paper seeks to contribute to the management development debate by providing insight on the dynamics of organisational learning and human interaction in the SME firm. The paper sets out to consider how a practice based perspective of knowledge is useful in this regard. Design/methodology/approach: The paper is theoretical in its intent and adopts a social constructionist view of knowledge and learning. Using qualitative analysis the paper establishes a review of the current literature by highlighting the centrality of knowledge and learning. Findings: Literature has suggested that critical aspects of learning within the SME firm are based around contextualised action, critical reflection and social interaction. A limited number of studies account for how practice is configured and influenced, in terms of value, uniqueness and scope of what is known, and how these influences can vary depending upon the contexts in which knowledge is being used, and potentially used. Practical Implications: There is a strong recognition in many of the empirical studies of learning and its use in the SME firm, that knowledge is gained through practice as opposed to formal instruction. What current research does not reflect is the changing nature of knowledge research in the wider organisational community, which has focused its attention towards the situated nature of knowledgeable activity or knowing in practice. Originality/Value: The paper argues that learning through practice, with its focus on real world issues and lived experiences, which are contextually embedded in the owner-manager's environment, may provide a better means of successfully developing practitioner focused owner/managers

Knowledge Management and Organizational Performance in Pakistani Think Tanks

Acceptance of knowledge as strategic resource and increased interest towards Knowledge Management (KM) is guiding the way towards knowledge era. Rhetoric nature of knowledge, knowledge work and knowledge worker strongly demand for KM. Many countries had already adopted their knowledge goals and few still need the consideration. Among knowledge intensive organizations (KIOs) Think Tanks (TT) are unique being policy research intensive organizations. Think Tanks could serve as a bridge between state and society and their performance will have impact on both. Complex policy making process increases the challenge of measuring the influence of TT and knowledge management will strengthen them to meet the challenge. Pakistani TTs can build right national image which is highly ignored. Pakistani TTs, apparently unaware of KM, are not only having treasure of Knowledge Resources (KR) but also using KM to enhance their organizational performance (OP). KRs are found more important for them to perform than material resources. Their knowledge capital (KC) highly depends on their human and social capital. Moreover cultural values and norms, multiple languages, knowledgeable leadership and national spirit have impact on OP. They take dual credit of having impact on governmental policies-macro level and people’s perception-micro level. KM-OP relationship is of current interest in the relevant literature and practice. Complex multi- dimensional nature of KM demands for concept clarity and surety. Literature mostly presents the link for specified dimension and explicit KM programs but silent on its cohesive view. Knowledge and its management are independent of any explicit definition and implementation. Literature and practice provides several example of KM failure because some specified dimension of it was selected and attempted for implementation. KM aligned with Organizational Strategy (OS) will underpin suitable processes, functions, methodology, technology, behaviour and structure in reference to strategic resource knowledge to achieve OP

Introduction:Entrepreneurship education and learning and the real world

It is with great pleasure that we introduce this special issue of Industry and Higher Education. The papers that follow have been selected, reviewed and developed for publication following their original presentation in the ‘Enterprise Education and Entrepreneurial Learning’ tracks of the 36th Annual Conference of the Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) held in Cardiff in November 2013

Keynes and the cotton industry: a reappraisal

The paper reinterprets Keynes’s analysis of the crisis in the Lancashire cotton industry in the 1920s. It presents empirical evidence showing that syndicates of local shareholders, but not the banks, were an important brake on firms exiting, at a time when exit barriers were otherwise unproblematic in this competitive industry. Moreover, syndicates milked firms of any profits through dividends, thereby limiting reinvestment and re-equipment possibilities. The case shows that where laissez-faire fails in response to a crisis, the associated response may need to assess both ownership structure and its relationship to competitive industry structure.

The ineffectiveness of ‘Buy British’ campaigns

They failed in the 1960s and 1980s and their chances are low now, with a diminished manufacturing capacity, write David Clayton and David Higgin

Let’s lose control: public procurement policy before, during, and after EU membership

David Clayton and David Higgins assess UK public procurement policy since the early 1970s. They explain why the EU’s common legal regime has had a positive impact on the UK economy, and therefore why leaving it will have negative implications

Establishing the relationship of inhaler satisfaction, treatment adherence, and patient outcomes : A prospective, real-world, cross-sectional survey of US adult asthma patients and physicians

Date of Acceptance: 26/06/2015 Acknowledgements The disease-specific program, on which the analyses were based, was designed and run by Adelphi Real World. The program was supported by a number of pharmaceutical companies, including Meda Pharmaceuticals. This specific analysis, together with this publication, was supported by Meda Pharmaceuticals. The decision to publish was made jointly by all authors cited. Medical writing support and literature searching was provided by Carole Alison Chrvala, PhD of Health Matters, Inc.Peer reviewedPublisher PD